Charlie the dog tries
his best to help out around the ranch. After seeing the ranch kids being home
schooled, he decides to teach classes to the farm animals. They don’t take well
to the lesson’s and Charlie gives up.

I don’t think
this book works well for a school library, especially since it features home
schooling. Furthermore, Charlie doesn't make an effort to actually help others,
gives up when the going gets tough and finds that laziness is the answer. Cute
illustrations and an appealing cover.

Clark the Shark
is a lot bigger and bolder and louder than all the other kids at school. Which
is fun, but doesn't result in many friends. His teacher Mrs. Inkydink inspires
him to figure out a way to ‘Stay Cool’. Clark takes the idea and runs with it,
finding out that bringing things down a notch is more fun for everyone.

This was a enjoyable read! I think students will like to read about this very enthusiastic happy
shark, who is a bit over the top. The cover is appealing and should result in a
ton of circulation. Great for a lesson on how to tone down and calm down.

Mike and Kate are in the
San Francisco Giant’s ballpark bay hoping to catch a fly ball when they hear a
much larger splash. The splash didn’t come
from a baseball, but someone falling in! That “person” was the famous retired Giants
pitcher Ray Reynolds. In his fall, he
lost his World Series ring. Mike and Kate know this was no accident and have a
mystery to solve!

This book was fairly
well written, but had some cheesy humor that not even a young child would
enjoy. It cracked un-relatable jokes too
many times. The story was also very predictable. I pretty much knew how the book was going to
end after the first chapter. There were
a few twists, but nothing that affected the story line. The illustrations were well done and helped
the visual aspect of the book greatly.

Harris, Rachel A Tale of Two Centuries 320 pgs. Entangled Publishing, Aug. 6, 2013. $9.99. Language: PG-13 (27 swears, no 'f'); Sexual Content: PG-13; Violence: PG.
In this sequel to My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century, Cat's cousin Alessandra is tired of her quiet life of obedience in sixteenth-century Florence. She longs to speak out. Even more, she wants the rush she felt when acting out a play with Cat two years before -- something good girls in her time are not allowed to do. But when she has the chance to time travel to modern-day L.A., she discovers that being brave is not as easy as she expected. Still, she is determined to make the most of her scary but exciting journey. Good thing she has a little help in the form of her audacious cousin Cat and her government class partner, the obnoxious but undeniably attractive Austin.

This is a wonderful, uplifting tale of friendship, romance, and making your own destiny. It was a lot of fun to experience modern-day life through the eyes of a timid sixteenth-century girl, and my curiosity about how it would all work out kept me turning the pages. The chemistry between Alessandra and Austin is undeniable, especially once they get to know each other, but what I appreciated most was that, ultimately, it wasn't Austin who saved her in the end. It was Alessandra's own strength, confidence, and willingness to speak up. Note: Does contain one instance of drinking, where Cat steals a shot glass in a bar and suggests Alessandra drink the liquor to calm her nerves. When Alessandra overdoes it, however, the results are unpleasant for her and the characters around her.

Joosse, Barbara Hooray Parade.Illustrated by Heywon Yum, 40 pgs.Viking Juvenile,2013.$16.99.PICTURE BOOK. Grandma is
coming to visit.She often brings a
surprise and this time is no exception.With the help of a shadow-puppet guessing game, her granddaughter (and
young readers alike) are thrilled with guessing which animal shows up behind
the curtain: an elephant, ostrich, rhino and monkey.On the last page, all the animals come from
behind the curtain and join the grandmother and granddaughter in a parade. The
colors in the illustrations are bright and inviting.The story is simple but will thrill young
readers. Pre-K.OPTIONAL.Reviewer: SL

Lester, Helen Happy Birdday Tacky! Illustrated by
Lynn Munsinger, 32 pgs.Houghton Mifflin
Books for Children, 2013. $16.99. PICTURE BOOK.It’s Tacky the Penguin’s Birdday and his friends want to make it the
best birdday ever!They spend hours
working on cards, songs, presents, ice cream and cake.They even book a surprise entertainer,
Twinklewebs theDance Queen from Iglooslavia. While all of the birdday
preparations are going on, Tacky invents another one of his quirky and hilarious
dances: The Flapwaddle Dance. While practicing his new dance, Tacky is summoned
to the party.It seems that anything
that can go wrong at the party does go wrong. But Tacky takes no notice and
begins to show his friends his new dance and he eventually saves the day.This is another great addition to the Tacky
series.I am partial to the first
book.Sequels, including this one, are
funny, colorful and bright, but Tacky the
Penguin is simply one of the best books out there. Pre-K.EL (K-3).ADVISABLE. Reviewer: SL.

Jennifer
Strange is a fifteen year old who runs an employment agency for magicians.She is an orphan, and now an indentured
servant working off her years to freedom by manning the company.The previous manager disappeared while doing
magic and Jennifer is the only one who knows how to keep the business
afloat.The magicians help with home
repair and delivery services, but magic in the world is dwindling and magical
services are no longer used by the public at large.One of the magicians has a premonition that
the local dragon is going to die and soon the whole nation is moving in to take
over the dragonlands.Jennifer attempts
to understand the connection between magic and the dragon and comes across the old
dragonslayer.He hands the
responsibility over to Jennifer, making her the last dragonslayer, and she
finds herself in a precarious situation.

This book is confusing.Anytime I
found myself getting into the story of Jennifer and the dragon, a minor
character would go off on a random dialogue that would last a couple of pages
and I didn’t feel like it helped the plot move along at all.Also there would be references to old wars
and battles throughout that really had nothing to do with the overall
story.At times I felt like the book was
geared more towards adults and was trying to make environmental statements and
anti-war sentiments.It didn’t feel like
a kid book and I wouldn’t recommend it to my students which is sad because I
liked the character Jennifer Strange and I wanted to like the story.

Little Critter finds a lost dog in the woods on his way home.He takes the dog home, but his mom says that
they have too many pets, so he can’t keep him.However, his mom lets him put the dog in the backyard on a leash until
Little Critter’s dad gets home.They
decide to take care of the dog until they can find its owner.While the dog is staying with them it has
puppies and the owner shows up to take the dog.She offers one of her puppies to Little Critter and his parents tell him
that he can keep it.He is excited.

This is a typical cute Little Critter
book.The story shows that keeping and
caring for pets is a lot of work, but they are also fun.The illustrations and quick story will hold
little reader’s attention.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Harper’s seemingly perfect sister, June, committed suicide and Harper
doesn’t know how to deal with it.She
finds a mix CD that her sister was listening to when she died and decides to
investigate who made it for her.That is
how Harper finds Jake.Harper isn’t sure
how June and Jake knew each other, but Jake is willing to help Harper get to
California where she hopes to throw June’s ashes into the ocean.Harper’s best friend Laney also joins them
for their crazy road trip where Harper and Jake help each other deal with June’s
death.

I actually enjoyed this book and
I liked the characters.The mature
content (drug use and sex) and language are a bit much for a school library,
but I think this book has value because the characters learn how to find
strength within themselves even when they feel like there isn’t any hope.Overall, watching the character growth was
worth wading through the inappropriate content.

This picture book is page spreads that have
groups of words that sound the same.The
first page will say something that sounds the same as the second page but means
two different things.For example, “I
Scream” and “Ice Cream” as well as “I see” and “Icy”.Some of the words groups make more sense than
others and are entertaining for young readers, but others seem random and don’t
really make sense, such as “Sorry, no more funnel cakes” and “Sorry, no more
fun…elk aches.”The pictures are a bit
abstract and not my favorite, but they represent the word phrases
well.This picture book doesn’t have a
story and it is just phrases throughout.Kids might find it interesting to think of different meanings of words
that sounds the same and the author asks the reader to guess what the second page might mean before you turn the page.

Monday, July 29, 2013

A very simple picture book comparing the narrator's dog and cat. For example, the dog barks while the cat meows, and the dog enjoys steak while the cat prefers tuna. In the end they do have two things in common: they both love pepperoni pizza and the narrator.

A very quick read with bright, clipart-style illustrations. Although the book doesn't detail anything revolutionary, many children will enjoy the discussion of the differences between cats and dogs.

Kantor, Melissa If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince? 320 pgs. Hyperion Books, 2007. $8.99. Language: (19 swears, no 'f'); Violence: PG; Mature Content: PG-13 (some making out in cars, though it goes no further than kissing; some underage drinking and one drug reference, neither of which is condoned).

Ever since Lucy's father remarried, her life has been upended. First she had to move from Los Angeles to New York to live with her new family, which meant a new school, new rules, and no friends. Then her father began traveling back to California to work, leaving Lucy alone with her stepmother and two vacuous stepsisters. Lucy decides it's not fair; after all, even Cinderella got to have a prince. Instead, Lucy spends the first seven months at her new school being completely ignored. Then an ill-advised remark about basketball earns her the attention of the hottest guy in school. Too bad Cinderella may be getting to know her real Prince Charming in the form of a standoffish boy in her art class.

This was a cute read with a hopeful ending -- rushed and tidy though that ending was. As much as I wanted to enjoy the story, however, it was a struggle at times. Lucy often came across as self-centered, judgmental, and snotty, and her snide comments were often unearned by the other characters -- especially her stepmother and stepsisters who, while not perfect, were far from evil. Honestly, many of their problems could have been cleared up with one nice, calm discussion -- something Lucy refused to do because she had already written off her brand new family. It was also difficult to suspend disbelief at times. For example, Lucy is not only unpopular, but completely unknown. Yet with one comment about basketball, this quiet sophomore suddenly has a boyfriend in the form of the hottest guy in the senior class. Almost immediately the two of them start going on dates, making out in his car, and planning their prom. Lucy even has big aspirations toward winning Prom Queen. While the wish fulfillment there is sweet, their relationship is so rushed, and Lucy's turnaround from unknown to Miss Popular so sudden, that it's hard to have much stake in it. When the true romance happens in the end, the payoff is nice but very short-lived. All in all a fun but not particularly memorable story.

This book
describes how 10 different zoo animal babies go to sleep. It provides the
specific type of animal they are, along with their given name, like Pepe. It
feature’s images of them looking cute or sleepy.

Of course
students will love the images, but I can’t understand why a level 1 early
reader would include such very specific names of animals that will throw up
road blocks for beginning readers, for example instead of just plain Wolf, its “Maned
Wolf”. The book didn't really show the animals really sleeping either, which is
kind of misleading. The repetition of Nighty, Night was cute though, and might
make for a calming story time.

Justin’s whole
family cheer’s on his big sister Jade as she runs track. Justin feels down, and doesn't know what to do to earn some cheers himself. When his big brother
Jordan reminds him they each of them is special in their own way –Justin thinks
he knows just what to do.

A sweet early
reader story about celebrating what makes each person unique. Students will be
drawn to the action packed cover art, and find the story easy to relate to
their own lives.

Alenna has been considered an orphan since she was ten and the UNA
government took her parents.The government
tests all sixteen year olds to see if they are “unanchored souls” or deviants
in society.Since Alenna has been raised
by the government as an orphan, she isn’t worried about being an unanchored
soul, so she is surprised to wake up from her test on the wheel, an island
where the banished teenagers are sent if they don’t pass the test.When she wakes up she finds an ally in a boy
named David, who saves her life from two warring factions on the island.They are separated and Alenna finds herself
in the blue sector with other teens who are trying to survive the island.The island is full of secrets and violence
and Alenna doesn’t know who to trust, until she finds a familiar face in a
warrior named Liam.

This book is hard to
put down because I couldn’t wait to find answers to why she was on the island
and who was in control.Throughout the
book there are plausible twists and turns and the minor characters are just as
interesting as the main character.The
story reminds me of Maze Runner by James Dashner, but it’s better because the
characters find answers to their questions.The ending is satisfying overall, but it does leave some characters
fates unanswered because there is going to be another book in the series.I can’t wait to read it.

Pinkalicious and Peter are going for a walk
when Pinkalicious falls and breaks her wand.She decides to make a new one out of a nearby twig and it holds magical
powers.Peter and Pinkalicious are able
to make cool things out of garbage, such as a throne a castle and new
outfits.They also are able to create
birds and flowers.Eventually the magical
wand gets taken up by the wind and Peter is sad because they won’t be able to
make anything new, but Pinkalicious tells him not to worry because they can
make things with seeds and love.

The
pictures in this book are as bright and colorful as other Pinkalicious books,
but the storyline is random and it’s unclear whether or not the characters are
actually able to do magic or if it’s their imagination.There are also poems that they use as spells
and they are random and don’t feel thought out.This isn’t my favorite book even though my daughter loves other
Pinkalicious books.

When basketball star Francisco gets a scholarship to a prestigious boarding school in upstate New York, he leaves his friends, his girlfriend and his “Krew” behind. But when trouble shows up when he comes home for a long weekend, Francisco must decide between staying in school and being loyal to his friends.

Based on Takoudes film “Up with Me”, this gritty look at the inner-city youth of Spanish Harlem shows how hard it is to break away from the life there. The violence is mild without losing the feel for the danger. Although quite sweary, High School students would really enjoy this novel.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Dean, James Pete the Cat: The Wheels on the Bus,32
pgs. Harper Collins, 2013.$9.99.PICTURE BOOK. This book is about a cat
named Pete.The book is patterned after “The
Wheels on the Bus” but with a different twist. Some of the verses are the same
like “The driver on the bus says, “Move on back!”.Other verses are different like “The kitties
on the bus say, “Come on, Pete!”. I
didn’t really like this book.The story
wasn’t interesting.The pictures were
alright but I didn’t love them either.Pre-K.EL(K-3).OPTIONAL.Student Reviewer: JL-
age 10.

Sullivan, Mary Ball 40 pgs. HMH Books for Young Readers,
2013. $12.99 PICTURE BOOK. This virtually
wordless book (the only word is ball) is a humorous story about a
dog and his need for someone, anyone,
to play ball with him.After his best
friend in the house heads to school, he hits up mom, the baby, and even the pet
cat in hopes for a quick game of ball.When
no one takes him up on his offer, he ends up playing a one-sided game of
fetch.The dog eventually tires out and
has a nap, but the ball playing continues in his dreams.The story is adorable with perfect detailed
illustrations.We loved the creativity
and imagination in this book.Pre-K.EL (K-3).ADVISABLE.Reviewer: SL.

Guest, Elissa Haden Bella’s Rules. Pictures by Abigail
Halpin. 32 pgs.Dial, 2013.$16.99.PICTURE BOOK. This book is about a girl named Bella who sometimes
struggles with being a good girl.Her
grandmother buys her a dog to show Bella how it feels when sometimes the thing
you are taking care of is bad.Will
Bella learn lesson?I really liked this
book.I really liked the illustrations a
lot.I liked the story and the moral to
the story.Pre-K.EL (K-3).ESSENTIAL.Student reviewer: JL-
age 10.

Townsend, Michael Cute & Cuter, 40 pgs.Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2013.
$15.99.PICTURE BOOK.This book is a very cute story about a dog
and his owner.One day they get a
cat.The dog does not like the cat.He tried every way he can think of to get rid
of the cat.He eventually drops the cat
out the mail slot in the door hoping the owner won’t notice.The owner becomes sad and she starts to
worry.This wasn’t going at all how the
dog had hoped.Will the owner find the
cat and will they all become friends?Read to find out.I really liked
the illustrations.I thought they were
really cute.I liked the story line and
what happened in the book.Pre-K.EL (K-3).ADVISABLE. Student Reviewer: JL

When Beth covers for her drunken mother -- yet again -- her rich uncle gives her an ultimatum: come live with him and his wife, or he will tell the police the truth and send Beth's mother to jail. But moving in with her uncle means going to a new high school, where she has daily contact with Ryan, a promising baseball player who seems strangely drawn to her.

What Beth doesn't know is that Ryan is determined to break through her tough exterior for one big reason: his friends dared him to ask her out, and she turned him down. Ryan doesn't lose, and now he has a chance to redeem himself. But soon there's something more important at stake than winning a dare: winning skittish Beth's heart before she disappears from his life forever.

Dare You To is a wonderful romance between two realistic teens who both have some growing up to do and some major decisions to make. Their love is hard-won, and it helps both of them become better people. Although brash, tough Beth may be difficult to like at first, her tumultuous past and growth throughout the book endear her to readers. Ryan's ultra-perfect jock exterior is also peeled away to show that, like all teens, he has some struggles of his own. While Dare You To could be a difficult addition for schools due to the strong language, drug use, and other mature content (the scene where several characters shop for condoms together comes to mind), it would find a guaranteed audience in many libraries because of its unflinching realism, romantic themes, and ultimately happy ending. It may in fact be just the book for some students -- especially those who have difficult pasts or families who are either torn apart or are too perfect. Would also be great for fans of Simone Elkeles. Note: This is a companion book to Pushing the Limits. While I did not read Echo and Noah's story and it was not essential to the plot of Dare You To, it would be beneficial to read them in order.

An illustrated introduction to various wetlands ecosystems, ending with a call to protect these important habitats. Written for young children, each spread contains one to three simple sentences in large print, highlighting a particular aspect of the wetlands. A full-color painting on the opposite page complements each section of the text. The last few pages contain further details on each of the preceding illustrations, a glossary, and a list of resources for further study.

An excellent introduction to an essential habitat, especially for younger children. Although I did learn a few things while reading it, older children who are conducting more in-depth research may need something more detailed.

Saturday, July 27, 2013

When Yuriko stays with her father, she is angry that the children tease because her blonde hair does not look Japanese, and the art teacher says her name wrong. Now she wants to be Michelle, so her father takes her to Golden Gate Park and a Japanese garden to get inspiration for her art assignment.

In this sweet story about appreciating your heritage and being creative, Say balances Japanese traditions with American culture and shows how a little creativity can make an ordinary assignment a special piece of art.

Myers, Walter Dean Invasion, 224 pgs. Scholastic Press; 2013. $17.99. Language: R (86 Swears 17 Fs); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13. Woody is part of the 29th Infantry Division which invaded France against the Germans on D-Day suffering heavy casualties. This is the story of the Invasion and the weeks following D-Day. Walter Dean Myers gives us another war story; this time, WWII. Billed as a prequel to Fallen Angels and Sunrise over Fallujah, Myers shows the horrors of war without being too graphic and sends the message that war is not the answer to the world’s problems. Although the swear count is high, I would certainly recommend this on a Middle School level. MS ESSENTIAL HS ADVISABLE Lisa Librarian

An autobiographical account of the author's childhood adapted for children from the book Fatty Legs. When Olemaun was eight, she convinced her father to let her leave their Inuit island and travel far away to the outsiders' school so she could learn to read. Victorious, Olemaun arrives at school ready to learn. Things are not easy for her, however. The nuns take away her native clothes, replacing them with an ill-fitting uniform. They rename her Margaret and order her to do chores. When she makes an enemy of her stern nun of a teacher, Margaret wonders if she will ever be allowed to learn to read. But her determination is stronger than all the things thrown at her, and in the end she teaches herself.

This is a wonderful story about the importance of education, as well as perseverance in the face of obstacles. I found myself worrying and cheering right along with Olemaun. Because of the cultural and historical references, some children may require a little extra explanation from adults to help them understand the context of the story and the significance of Olemaun's achievements. Would make a good companion to lessons on the culture and history of the Inuits. May also make a nice library read-aloud due to its emphasis on the power of reading.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

A beginner's guide to cooking. Includes ten different meat-based recipes, some with vegetarian alternatives.

While the recipes themselves are serviceable, the main appeal of the book is its information on basic cooking skills. The first few pages include an introduction to cooking, along with safety tips, illustrations of various kitchen tools, and an introduction to basic cooking techniques -- all written in a clear but friendly and encouraging voice with a nice, easy-to-read typeface and bolding in appropriate places. The recipes themselves include lists of ingredients and equipment, estimated preparation and cooking time, step-by-step directions, pictures and illustrations, and helpful hints -- many of which encourage children to get creative with their cooking by substituting different ingredients or arranging food in new, appealing ways. The last few pages contain a glossary of unusual ingredients, an index, and a list of websites for further reading.

Meaty Main Dishes is an excellent resource for beginning cooks. Although some of the recipes do require adult supervision, many steps can be done by children, helping them to gain confidence in the kitchen. While some high school students may find it slightly young for them, those who are interested in becoming self-sufficient -- such as those who come home to an empty house or who are about to go off to college -- may be willing to overlook the tone. The main downside is the hefty price tag, though the book does include a solid library binding.

Jo Schmo is
bored, impatient that there are no big crimes to solve. Little does she know
that the means girls at school have decided to become super villains! Jo decides
to build a time machine and go back in the past to fight the evil Wyatt Burp. His
burping powers are going to present a big challenge!

This the second
book I have read in this series, and I am not sure that it’s growing on me. The
language is choppy and stilted, often really corny too. I think the cover is unappealing as well. I wouldn't purchase this one for my school
library, I just think there is better options.

Here we find
Icky Ricky and his friends trying valiantly to re-deliver a pizza mis-delivered
to them. But its raining, and they drop it, and they try to remake it. Well it’s
a mess and they boys decide to have a funeral. We also meet Icky Rickys toenail
collection. Then the boys have some adventure’s on a Cleanup day.

Although this
book is better than the first one, I still would choose not to spend money on
this series. I wish the author would take the great banter between the boys,
the sense of fun, and his creativity –then take it down a notch.

Icky Ricky is a
boy who very creative when it comes to using food in a variety of ways, many of
them really messy, gross, and of course, fun. Will Ricky be able to turn in his
homework on cheese slices? Will a half watermelon helmet really work? Is Ricky
going to take the fall for the bully Dean’s lost RC car? What about all that
canned cheese?

I didn't care
for this book. It was like a giant collection of ideas on how to waste food by
making a giant mess with it. Although there was some continuing plot lines and decent vocabulary, I didn't feel like they justified purchasing this for a school library –even as
entertaining filler.

A biography of self-taught artist Bill Traylor. As a former slave, then sharecropper, husband, and father, Traylor saw a lot in his lifetime. Without knowing it, he saved up all his experiences and emotions inside until one day, when he was alone and eighty-five, he sat down and poured everything out in a series of drawings and paintings. Although he saw little to no fame in his own lifetime, and eventually lost heart, his work has recently been rediscovered and finally appreciated.

This is a nice reminder that artists must live life in order to have a creative well to pull from, and an inspiration for those who begin to draw either late in life or without formal training. The text-heavy pages make this one more suitable for older students, perhaps ones who are themselves budding artists. While the illustrations mimic Traylor's style, and his artwork is described several times, the book itself contains only one piece of his work, a small painting on the very last page.

In this book the
famous first grader, Junie B, reveals all her secret school survival advice
from school supplies, how to deal with teachers, how to stay out of trouble,
homework, and even information about the best color clothes to wear to avoid
stains from school lunch!

Students love
this series, and reprints are great –since they avoid the older style covers.
The glossy pages are fully color illustrated over notebook style paper that
students will find very appealing. Junie B.’s quirky personality doesn't fail
to come across in her eclectic advice.

Yuck is obsessed
with boogers, especially his own. His mom really wants him to stop picking and eating them and also, to
wear clean socks. Yuck comes up with a recipe for the stinkiest stink
imaginable. Features many black and white illustrations.

I honestly don’t
care if students might love this book, I am the one making the purchases, and
this book made me want to vomit. Give me Captain Underpants any day of the
week. This book was just trying to top itself over and over again on the gross
out factor. I don’t want to give impressionable students any ideas that I or
their parents, or both as I get yelled at, will live to regret –especially when
it comes to boogers and stinky socks.

A 2013 reprint
of the classic story of a downed pilot stranded in the desert who meets an
unusual little prince.

I can’t for the
life of me figure out what makes this re-print necessary. I already have
multiple copies of this story in my library, like many of you probably already
do. Just contains the original illustrations,
like many editions.

This is the
continuing story of Doreen, a middle schooler with ADHD who loves to doodle.
She is trying to adjust to her new school, liking boys, and some upheaval
between her parents. She is having some trouble with her school work.

I found this
book to be almost unreadable –small print, font and formatting so varied that
it gave me a headache. I think it might even be a bit to cluttered for
students. I feel like I may have caught ADHD from this book! Seriously, there is
one real reason why I won’t recommend this for a school library –Doreen write’s
a paper about kiddie porn –and she also calls it kitty porn. I just can’t cross
that bridge with an angry parent.

A little graphic
novel featuring incredibly simple characters, Bean Dog and Nugget, having little
conversations and incidents. In this book, the two of them argue about an invisible donut then about how to split a last cookie, everything coming to a awesome conclusion.

Wow, that was
hard to describe. For the record, I am now officially obsessed with this
author. I laughed out loud reading the hilarious banter between these two characters.
This book is smart and witty while being totally silly and goofy!! I think
students will love Nugget and Bean, relating to their friendship and their
quirks. Told in a graphic novel format that is a great introduction to early
readers.

Here we meet
Bean Dog and Nugget as they lose Bean Dog’s ball into a scary bush at the park.
They come up with some wild schemes to get it back. Including throwing in their
shoes, dressing as superhero’s, and more.

I about died
laughing reading this book. I think students will adore these simple quirky
characters. As with Captain Wedgieman, by this same author, wasn't funny enough –I
think she topped herself. I can’t wait to introduce students to this series. I
am preparing for a few brawls by buying multiple copies.

The students of
the Trident academy are shocked to find out that a real princess is a student
at the school. Will this princess discovery go to her head, shocked as she is
herself, or will she be able to find a way to use her new status for good? What
about the secret part? Why would her grandfather lie to her? Can this new
princess be herself or is she just a typical princess?

To be brutally
honest I have really disliked this series, it came off as sickly sweet and
candy coated. But it has been so popular with the students, that I gave it
another shot. Once my grown-up brain got past all the slangy ocean converted
words, this was a fun story with even some character building included. Add
this series if you need some safe entertaining filler.

Dana is a bit
high and mighty about her birthday. She acts mean, takes things, and calls
people names. When she receives a wonderful pet elephant as a birthday gift,
she is elated. But things don’t work out quite the way she expects, and Dana
starts to change in unexpected ways.

This story has a
sly sense of humor and an intriguing way of teaching. I was pleasantly
surprised and thought this was a fantastic book. Students will find this an
interesting read as they see a bully make a real change. The artwork is varied
and is laid out in an interesting and eye-catching way. Quirky to boot!

Squish’s best
friends are into a new video game called Mitosis. Squish becomes addicted, giving
up sleep, and ignoring his homework. Readers also get the continuing story of
Squish’s favorite comic book hero, Super Amoeba, who is fighting black mold.

I have to admit
that I really didn't like Squish when I read another book from this series, but
it has grown on me. It’s a popular request from students, 3-4th
grade boys. I loved this one because Squish comes to his own conclusions about
what excess is doing to his life. I also think students will relate to the
video game and comic inclusions as well. Very entertaining!

A joke book for
Fans of the TV show Martha Speaks. Many of the jokes are animal themed. Geared
for Early Readers.

I thought this
book felt really short and fell short too. It felt more like a promotional item
than a book to purchase for a library collection. The jokes weren't that great,
and some of them would be confusing to early readers.

In this book
Pete is at the beach with his mom and his brother. His brother is surfing,
keeping cool and having fun. Pete just hangs on the hot beach, but you get the
feeling he wishes he was out there. A little coaxing is all this cat needs and
soon Pete is out with his brother having a great time!

I just feel like
cheering! Pete might be afraid but he isn't a scaredy cat about it! I can’t
wait to read Pete’s next adventure.

Pete the Cat
goes to play baseball with all of his friends. He isn't very good, but he doesn't let that get him down –after all he did his best and best of all, he had a
great time!

Pete the Cat is
fantastic! I like how his face is emotionless, it’s a chill way to show
that Pete the Cat “Just is”. I think students will love Pete the Cat!! This is
a great age to start instilling the spirit of the game mentality before its too
late!

Pete the Cat is
hungry. What should he make for lunch? Pete decides to make a sandwich!

Pete the cat is
hungry. More than hungry. He makes the biggest sandwich out of almost
everything in the kitchen. Will he be able to eat the entire thing alone?

Pete the cat is
growing on me! This is a fantastic book that even Pre-K will adore and be able
to read some of the words. Pete the cat is one cool customer, providing a fantastic example that is shows that sharing should just be normal, not some cheesy
moralistic lesson.

Dodsworth and
duck are headed off to Japan. Duck finds no end of mischief to get in,
including one funny incident where Duck shows that he can’t swim and Dodsworth
must go into a little river to fetch him out.

This series hasn't done well at my library. The students aren't as charmed by the adorable artwork
as us grownup's are. The text complexity and many cultural references are a bit
advanced for early readers. Those old
enough to understand them are wanting larger less childish books. If the series
is popular with your students, then by all means this is a book you will want
to pick up.

Lenny is obsessed with the Phillies! They are his favorite team. When he wins a contest to be a "guest announcer" he cannot believe his luck, because it'll be Rookie R. J. Weather's first big league game. But before Lenny's big chance, one of the players ends up dead. Now, Lenny feels it's up to him and the 2 Mikes to solve the mystery. Are these middle schoolers ready to go to bat as detectives?

This is a fun kid detective story. Sport themed, but not much sport played, more talked about. This would be a great recommendation for the 6th-7th grade sports enthusiast to get them reading a different genre.

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Kiss the Book is a book review site to help school librarians at any K-12 level find books for their classes and libraries. Our reviews are written by school library professionals and vetted student reviewers.

If you are wondering what our review criteria are, you can see that and all of our reviews for the last several years using the links above!